Bill Cheek - World Scanner Report

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WORLD SCANNER REPORT

A Journal of VHF-DHF Radio Teofanology & Engine^itg

fuiiifaMtijr C<MMtroidcaia8iiti!«ttgntiH}BDx2624?8t
l^t^btieii/Editor: W< IX Ctteek; St* a4uL ^Dr,

^ ISSN 1061n924d

Volumes^ Number? S5.00

FIRST PET PEEVE
CONTEST WINNERS
(Still open til Sept 30, 1995)

See this space in last issue for tlie rules,
terms and conditions. The Pet Peeve
Contest is open until 9/30/95. Winners
receive a PerCon Soectnim Lite FCC
Database on CD-ROM . Meanwhile,
we’re happy to announce the first
winner:

From: Ira Cooper Lexington, KY:
Received: Internet e-mail. Wednesday, Sept
06, 1995 5:39 PM

There's not a lot I don't like about radio.
However, some people in the radio clubs &
nets (BBS, AOL, etc) give me pains. There
are the know-it-aH's (self proclaimed). But
the people that get my ire -are the "/ can get
that for $2 in Madagascar types.

Let me elaborate. In the sell/trade sections
of the BBS’s someone will offer, for instance,
a Pro-2006 for $325. Then there will be ten
responses about how these aren't worth it
'* You can still get them new in San Salvador
for a goat head." Now these people aren’t in
the market for a 2006, or any radio for that
matter. But they waste their time and my
time putting these stupid comments on line.

I don’t know If they think they are helping us,
giving us a great tip, or trying to make the
seller feel like a fool. My specific situation
went like this. I bought a Pro-39 (brand
new), did the cell mod, 12800 channel
memory mod (using surface mount parts),
added an on/off light switch (mini slider
actuator on side of radio), and the signal
strength S-Meter mod. The meter was an
external plug-in type and included with the
radio. The hack jobs are very nice (if I may
say so myself) and the radio maintains its
original profile. OK, I decided since I have 9
radios I would offer this one for sale. I put it
on AOL and Newsgroup sites. I paid $179 +
tax. My asking price was $275, OBO. This
is what I wanted to part with this radio,
otherwise I would keep it. Well, the next day
I get e-malled from some faceless jerk telling
me "Pro-39's go for $1(X)-125 at flea

markets all the time, nobody really is
interested in the memory mod and the S-
meter mod is also worthless especially since
it’s external, but good luck anyway. "No
offer, no questions, just BS. I see it all the
time. If you want to make an offer (no
matter how ludicrous) make It but don’t tell
me what YOU think everyone else wants. It
just bugs me. Bill and Cindy keep it coming.
Ira Cooper (pro-43@aol.com)

ED: Wow, a good one, Ira! I can relate
because I see it all the time, too. Some
people are just persnickety and ornery, I
guess. The computer network forums are
just full of them, probably because it is
so easy to pipe in with snide remarks and
not get pasted up side the chops for their
time and trouble. Your pet peeve is a
classic, so Cindy and I unanimously
selected you to be the first winner.
Thanks for your time and trouble.

Our next winner comes as a surprise to
tlie submitter because mostly likely, he
had no idea he was entering a contest.
His critique is tantamount to a peeve and
quite worthwhile, so a PerCon Spectrum
Lite goes out to:

Name Withheld by Request: received
Internet e-mail: Wednesday, September 06,
1995 5:28 PM

Bill: I must admit that I don't write very
many letters, but I felt compelled to do so
after reading your article "How to buy a
Computer for Your Shack and Station" in
the WSR. I have used and owned many
computers over the years (Commodore PET,
\/IC-20, Atari 800, Apple II, Madntosh and
Windoze machines) and feel that I know
something about them after ail this time. I
also understand that this article was aimed at
"newbies" in the computer field. However, I
believe that the following changes should be
made to your list:

Item 12 (Hard Drive); A^uick look in
my local (NJ) Sunday paper revealed a
shortage of 540Mb drives. The standard
seems to be 730-850Mb and up! 1 believe
the "newbie" will be confused since they

won't be able to locate the 540Mb you
recommend.

Item 2S (Modem Type): 1 still feel that a
14.4kbps modem Is adequate for newbies,
although the difference in price is minimal
(but not zero).

Item 31 (Printer): This is where I believe
you missed the mark. Ink Jet technology is
the way to go today. My local WalMart had a
sale recently on the HP DeskJet for $200. It
does a beautiful job of printing with the
included black cartridge, and is also capable
of printing in colorl My neighbor (another
computer newbie) just bought one, and loves
it In addition, the ink jets are very quiet,
compared to their dot-matrix brethren. And
who can complain about 300dpi printing?
You can't get that from dot matrix!

By the way, I really like your newsletter, and
don't appredate anonymous letters to the
editor (i.e. the letter from DeflaterOaol.com).

ED: No quibble on larger sized hard
drives: it*s just that the smallest hard
drive one should get nowadays is 540-
Mb. Most assuredly, the larger, the
better. Now when it comes to modems,
we might have to argue. The cost
difference between old, now outdated
14.4-kbps modems and the new 28.8-
kbps types is really zilch, if you consider
the long term operating costs of 14.4-
kbps (twice as much as 28.8-kbpsl) You
might save $50 initially, but at 15^/min,
that savings is eaten up after about 11-
hrs of long-distance time. A 28.8-kbps
modem will return a profit for every
minute thereafter. I think a 14.4-kbps
modem (and slower) is a false economy
now, at any price.

I did not consider ink-jet printers solely
because they come in the middle between
the advantages of dot-matrix and laser.
A radioist might actually put a dot
matrix printer to better use than either a
laser or ink jet by virtue that the dot
matrix printer can print one line at a
time without a subsequent formfeed to
waste the rest of the paper. Laser and
inkjet printers will spit out the entire sheet

9/19/95^-4:44 PM'-Page 1

when a single line is printed. I am thinking
of logging needs that are sometimes useful to
the radioist. The CE-232 Interface offers
such logging features, as do many other
radio d electronic applications.

In any e\^ent, the dot matrix printer remains
my choice for a minimum quality of printer,
but the buyer is always free to elevate the
specs, depending on budget and need.

Your input and slightly different ways of
looking at things are appreciated, however,
and I consider them valuable enough to offer
the readers for a wider range of
consideration.

SPEAKING OF COMPUTERS:
WANT TO ROLL YOUR OWN?

Hey, are you guys ‘n gals interested in
building or upgrading your own
computers? The time is right, and I can
show you how to do it at great savings
and immense satisfaction. But I don’t
want to bore or irritate too many people.
So let’s hear it from you...cast your vote
for a detailed article or a series of shorter
articles that will show you how to build
or upgrade your own computers. I have
done a few and can attest to it being a
“piece of cake”. You can save a bundle
and learn a helluva lot at tlie same time.
And remember, radio and computers are
forever “joined at the hip” now. I’m
going to do a lite version of this idea in
my ^Monitoring Times" column, but if
enough of you folks are interested. I’ll
dig into some real gory details for you
here. Let me know by e-mail or postal
mail, please.

SNEAKERS

By Janet Cravens

Lighten up, guys! This is not brain
surgery. You may think the world is
coming to an end if you don't get that
last frequency NOBODY else has, but
chances are, you'll live.

So here I am again. I'm going to
try to keep everyone up-to-date on the
occurrences in our scanner's life.
Obviously, it sees more action than I
do, else I could tell you about my life.

Last time we discussed a lot of new
things I've learned since my husband,
Roger, casually mentioned he thought
he'd like to have a police scanner. I
didn't, however, tell you that the only
time he gets a phone call from my
mother, its because her scanner isn't

working any more; or she needs a new
frequency list; or she's lost her page
of "ten-codes" and can't figure out
what's happening. She calls him almost
every Saturday morning to see if he
got to listen to that high speed chase
from the night before, or see if he
knows what's happening over on
Anneewakee. Come to think of it, she
calls him more often than she calls me.
We've been married almost 7 or 8
years (we neither can remember how
long), and the only time he visits my
parents is with his radio riding shotgun.
But of course the radio is not allowed
to stay in the van/truck...it has to go
into the house like the rest of the
family. My sisters and brothers don't
understand the obsessiveness of this
little habit....I try to tell them that if
they'll just ignore him, he won't even
realize they're there and we'll get to
stay longer. If he "wakes up and
realizes where we are, we'll have to go
home sooner".

About the Government Printing
Office in Atlanta...what I didn't tell
you is that I've discovered I can drive
around the block at least 47 times
before he can decide what book to
purchase and which one to save for
next time. I didn't tell you about all
the ugly words people use when I
cruise by r-e-a-l s-l-o-w, just in case
he's almost finished and I can save
myself another drive around the block.
I've learned quite a vocabulary.
Unfortunately, I'm not old enough to
use words like that...or to understand
them either for that matter.

I've learned not to mind when he
informs me "his girl" is back on
dispatch. He loves the way she says
"clear"—it sounds like "Claire*—it took
me months to realize what she was
saying and I'm from the SOUTH. He's
been looking for Michelle for a while
too, because last he heard she was
working with the Special Investigative
Division (SID), but he hasn't heard
"from" her in a while.

And I didn't tell you about the
night he was in the store buying a
newspaper and checking out the
perimeter of the store. Every weekend,
there seems to be a drug bust or

purchase at this particular store, arid
he thought "his" SID folks were out.
While he was in the store, I overheard
the detectives talking about where the
party was and what the scenario
was....so when he came out of the
store, I drove on to the party so he
could see what was going on. He almost
had a stroke! He didn't realize I was
going to drive right past the house and
check them out. That was the closest
we've been to a 10-16; he made me
leave the area immediately! Personally,
I thought if the cops stopped and
asked us what we were doing, we could
just tell them we were smurfing
around.

So tell me. What's the big deal
with being caught? It isn't illegal to
listen in on a police scanner, we are
living in a country where freedom is
synonymous with responsibility—you
can't have one without the other, and I
figure if a drug bust is going on right in
my neighborhood, why should I wait for
TOP COPS to see what happened.
Roger did not understand my reasoning.

And I'm sure he hasn't told any of
you about the day he decided to do a
little research up at the Sheriff's
Office. He'd been doing lots of
reading and research about antennas—
he decided he'd go by the sheriff's
office on the way back from the dump-
-do you know the Sheriff Department
didn't really care too much that he
just wanted to measure the antennas
on the back of their cars. Seems like
they thought if they wanted him to
know, they would have told him when
they issued his driver's license several
years ago.

We went to the Braves game a
couple of weeks ago. His Pro 2006 and
his frequency counter had to go along
with us, along with his headphones so
he could listen to "stuff". One of the
girls from my office works in security;
when she saw me and we starting
talking, he pulled out his frequency
counter and began scanning her breast
to see what frequency the Braves were
transmitting on—Okay—it really was
her radio next to her breast, but it
sure looked a little flaky to me. If I
hadn't been there and seen that, I'd

9/19/95->4:16 PM~ The ^WoHd Scanner Rcport^^ © 1991-95; Volume 5, No 7; Page 2

admonition for my next book to focus my
attention on more mods and a bit less
attitude^ <Balderdash & horsefeathers!>

In a word, I wonder what horse this dude
rode in on and where it came from and
where it’s going. Any halfwit with a
schematic and a screwdriver knows that
hacking is an attitude.

The SCANNER NEWS'' tore my
first two books to slu-eds, telling their
readers that my books were too technical
and far over tlieir heads. And in general,
they have little good to say about
anything or anyone outside their little
circle of the world. My impression is
that the ‘^US SCANNER NEWS" takes it
upon itself to decide for its readers
what’s good for tliem and what’s not.
This is a syndrome ...a failure mode....to
which many potentially fine writers and
rags seem compelled to succumb. The
‘‘US SCANNER NEWS" failed to publish
for lengthy periods over the last few
years and actually went belly-up before
being taken over by another publisher.
It’s no wonder! They should just say tlie
right things about people and products
and leave responsibility to the readers
and consumers to render judgment.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. Ripoff products
and those that have little merit should
not be wliitewashed. You guys ‘n gals

know me.I don’t whitewash. But then

I don’t go off on ‘"attitudes" and tell
other writers and companies how to
attend to their business. I really try to
avoid judgments and stick to the facts
about products and services. Now I mV/
rip a new exhaust tube on a person upon
occasion, but I tr\' to avoid mixing
product and personnel reviews in the
same breath; sometliing “US SCANNER
NEWS" might do well to ponder. Other¬
wise, I guess they can just eat my shorts.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for a new or

differenf scanner magazine, drop a note
of inquiry or call below. And, tell the
pricks I sent ya and ask ’em who the hell
wrote that review. Maybe they're sore at
me 'cuz I never did ’em any favors. {Ok,
favor done.) Besides, they have a few fine
writers whom I consider friends and
colleagues.

US SCANNER PUBLICATIONS

PO BOX 14923
PORTLAND, OR 97214
Voice: (800)890^999
Voice: (503)230^999
Fax: (503)233-5176

ELECTRONIC

EAVESDROPPING

— Continued —

Continued? Well, yes. See last issue for
the Super Snoop Microphone tliat I laid
on ya. No, you’re not supposed to do any
eavesdropping with it, but there’s more
to tlie little sucker tlian just recording
lectures and notes. Whatever your
purpose, I have anotlier slick little add¬
on for it.a powerful, eas\' amplifier!

SUPER SNOOP AMPUFIER

What good’s a Super Snoop Microphone
if you can’t hear anything? You don’t
always need or want a tape recorder, but
you still might want to listen to
something weird and far out. My Super
Snoop Amplifier accepts input from the
Super Snoop Microphone and amplifies
the hell out of tlie weak audio, sufficient
to drive a small speaker or an earphone
with all tlie sound your eardrums can
handle. (And more.) And the sucker is
cheap & easy to build, too. Togetlier, tlie
Super Snoop mic and amplifier will
impress the hell out of you and your pals.

Key note here is that the Super Snoop
Amplifier (SSA) is capable of being built
into a veiy tiny space, perhaps even
smaller tlian tlie battery required to
power it (6 to 14 volts, not critical). The
SSA draws 4-8 ma with no signal, but do
not be deceived; tlie SSA can put out 0.7
to 1.0 watt of audio power. That means
a current drain of at least 110-ma at 9
volts. Keep the power low, and current
drain can be minimum so as to allow use
of a standard 9 volt battery. Earphones
or small speakers running at 0.1-watt
will draw about 12-ma.not bad.

In a word, the SSA can be built into a

and perhaps even smaller, depending on
how creative and innovative you are.
Just allow for easy access to the battery if
you anticipate tlie need for quick changes
at inopportune times.

Key Note: The SSA can serve as a
general purpose utility audio amplifier,
too. If you build yours with convenient
Vs” phone jacks, tlien it can be
compatible with almost any input/output
needs, and not be limited to use with last
issue’s Super Snoop Microphone; nor
would it be limited to speaker-only or
earphone-only applications. The SSA is
a versatile tool around shop and shack.

Technical: The heart of tlie SSA is a
common little audio power amplifier
cliip, available almost anywhere, from
Radio Shack to generic parts houses.
Tlie LM-386 comes in many styles, but
our focus will be on eitlier tlie 8-pin DEP
package like Radio Shack’s, or an 8-pin
SMT (surface mount) package like can
be acquired from DigiKey and otlier
suppliers. In worst cases, you can use
tlie NTE/ECG 823 as a prime substitute.

The LM-386 is a powerful little chip tliat
produces clean, low distortion sound at
power levels under 14-watt. Its frequency
response exceeds the 20 Hz - 20 Kliz
audio spectrum. Voltage gain goes to as
high as 200 for a lot of amplification!
This baby is so good that with the Super
Snoop Microphone from last issue, you
can easily hear crickets chirping in the
night, even when your ears might not
detect them! It will clearly detect a
whisper across a quiet, large room!

Construction: Tlie SSA requires only a
few common external parts for a fully
functional audio amplifier. Construction
is straightforward with the main concern

ise smaller than a pack of cigarettes, to keep the input components relatively

THE SUPER SNOOP AMPLIFIER

n n n n

+6 to +14 vDC (not critical)

8 7 6 5

LM-386

^ Top View

O U U j

Output

+

,

9/19/95 - 4:26 PAt~ The “World Scanner Rcpoii” © 1991-95; Volume 5, No 7; Page 4

have wondered whose breast he'd been
"freaking" lately besides hers. He sat
there all through that wonderful
ballgame, didn't say a word to me or
the boys, listened to his radio, and had
himself a time. I guess you could say
that for him the Braves game was sort
of like that romantic night under the
moon I talked to you about last month-
-you know, where I got to sit there
very close to him in the dark, late at
night, right under the moon—and the
repeater tower in downtown
Douglasville—to try and pick up some
new frequencies.

Well, time to close for now with a
small explanation of how the scanner
became the most important piece of
equipment in my life. See, one day I
happened to mention to my husband
that I needed this little piece of
metal, plastic, and components....and
what a wonderful contribution this

would be to our lives.and he totally

misread me and brought me home a
scanner.

Oh well, it's not brain surgery. At
least I'll live.

ULTIMATE SCANNER BOOK’S

FIRST BAD REVIEW

(A RESPONSE)

It just had to happen: my ULTIMATE
SCANNER book got its first bad review.
Surprisingly, it comes from a major
publication instead of one of the small
club newsletters that are more prone to
tear things to pieces. The '"US SCANNER
NEWS** tears my new book to slireds in
their September, 1995, issue. I could
live with that, since (1) nothing’s perfect
in this old world, and (2) you can’t
please all the people all the time, no
matter how good you are. ©

The "USSCANNER NEWS** took it upon
itself to get a little personal, tliough,
which comes as quite a surprise to me
since I know Bob Gehri,their editor and
some of their writers. Unfortunately, the
author’s name of the ULTIMATE
SCANNER product review was not
mentioned. I have no idea of who hid
behind the feathered quill, but I shall
take a bit of space here to respond to
those parts of the book review that are, in
my estimation, unfair, untrue, or out of
order. First, I must observe that the "US

SCANNER NEWS** took my first two
books to task, too. Now if tliat doesn’t
reek of peculiarity, I don’t know what
does. The success and acclaim of my
SCANNER MODIFICATION HANDBOOKS
are legend. With that in mind, please
consider my following reply:

Tlie opening paragraphs of “US' SCANNER
NEWS** review of the ULTIMATE
SCANNER set a general derogatory tone
that is difficult to understand but comes
quickly to the point, "Most of the actual
modification projects in the Ultimate
Scanner focuses toward the PRO-
2004/5/6 and PRO-43, The only
scanners that Cheek believes to warrant
serious hacking attention../'

Let tlie record speak for itself. Are there
other seriously hackable scaimers? No.

Referring to an adaptation of Bruce
Elving’s SCA modification tliat I
presented, the author laments,

“. although usable with any scanner which

covers the Fhl Broadcast band, installation
in scanners besides the 2004/5/6/2035 is
unfortunately brushed aside.

Hogwash! How do you "brush aside"
that which does not exist? Are there any
otlier prominent scaimers that have the
FM Broadcast band and which might
attract an interest in SCA? I mentioned
the Regency Z60 and the PRO-2003, but
geez, doode, hackers don’t own those
rigs. They are ancient and of no main¬
line interest. And tliere aren’t any other
FM Broadcast scaimers of which I am
aware. The mfrs/dstrs of AOR scanners
don’t cooperate with me relative to
needed technical data, so what else is
tliere to "brush aside" fer Pete’s sake?

The author goes on to whine about the
cellular mods I included for "about 2
dozen different models of scanners from
both Radio Shack and Uniden. Only 4 of
the cell mod descriptions are supported
with illustrations, however. The bigger
limitation here, of course is that none of
these particular models of scanners are
still available as new product. **

Good grief! Apparently that author
doesn’t know that new scanners are not
capable of cellular modifications!
Furthermore, he must prefer picture
books to well written prose. Here, you
tell me if a picture is needed: PRQ-2QQ6
cellular mod: Lift top cover. Look behind the #3 key
on the keyboard. Clip the exposed leads of both
diodes. Replace cover. Operate as normal. If it

could be explained tliat easily, I did not
insert expensive, space consuming
illustrations. (What’s this guy want?)

Then, referring to my award of Ultimate
Scanner Status to the PRO-2004/5/6/-
2035, the author pontificates that I "may
be more closely describing a BC-9000"
He fails to note tliat the BC-9000 was not
released at tlie time my manuscript went
to the publisher. He has failed to peek
inside one since tlien, to become
intimately aware of what I mean about
lots of sizzle and no steak, and not being
able to extract blood from turnips.

He snivels about my positive comments
on Radio Shack’s service manuals and
ho-hum on Uniden’s. He ruminates that
Uniden manuals are as good as Radio
Shack’s. <Good grief!>. Then he leaps
up on the stump to narrate how he can
"talk with a real live Radio Tech" from

ICOM and AOR.and tlien drivels,

"Try that with one Radio Shack."

These latter statements go a long way to
establishing that author’s credentials.
After all, WHAT mfr’s tech support is
going to talk with YOU or anyone about
hacking and modifying tlieir stuff?
You’d get laughed off tlie phone, if you
tried....and a perfectly good long distance
phone call wasted. In short, tlie fellow
exposes his backside where he states that
Uniden service manuals are as good as
Radio Shack’s, and that you can talk to
Uniden’s and AOR’s tech support
people. Methinks tlie poor fellow doesn’t
understand what hacking and modifying
are all about. What do you think about
Uniden Service Manuals?

He shifts into 4^^ gear on what he calls
errors where one is just that, but a couple
more are only simplifications of highly
technical matters that I did not want to
trouble the readers witli. I suppose that’s
fair, taken all by itself ....but it ain’t all
by itself...tliere’s more.

The author gnashes his teetli over the
neat spreadsheets I presented for
calculating radio path distances and
bearings, and for VHF-UHF propagation
analysis. Clearly, he shows tliat he
wants to be judge and jury for what
material is to be given to radio hobbyists.

The "US SCANNER NEWS** review of
my ULTIMATE SCANNER book rambles
on witli many snide remarks, on and off
target, interspersed with an occasional
nod of approval, and concludes with an

9/19/95 ^4:16 PM^ The ^^Worltl Scanner Rcport^^ © 1991-95; Volume 5 , No 7; Page 3

sequestered from the output components
to prevent feedback. Ground connections
should be kept short and organized. The
SSA is so cheap and easy to build that
you might want to do a larger, utility
version first, on which to cut your teeth,
so to speak. Later, you can whittle down
a second one to a minuscule size for
clandestine or surreptitious needs. The
first version can be constructed from the
Parts List below, while a refined, micro
version can be made from equivalent
surface mount components.

VR-1 Note; VR-1 can be a “normal”
volume control with a knob or it can be a
mini potentiometeror even a micro
trimmer potentiometer recessed into the
case with a screwdriver access hole. I’ll
leave the specifics up to you. The
resistance value is the critical parameter
here; not size unless you need a tiny unit.

Operation; Nothing to it. Plug your
Super Snoop Microphone from last issue
into the INPUT jack. Plug a small
speaker or an earphone into tlie
OUTPUT Jack. Apply DC power of +6
to +14 volts (not critical) to the power
lead. Adjust VR-1 for desired volume.

All this said and done, suppose you don’t
want to build your own Super Snoop
Amplifier? Ok, buy one ready-made^
probably the same damn thing, for $12 at
Radio Shack, #277-1008. You can
hardly beat it and spend less money at
the same time. The ready-made model
easily fits in a shirt pocket but might be
larger than you want. So roll your own or
buy one ready-made. Either one is very
nice. Either amplifies weak signals.

SSA PARTS LIST

Ckt

C2

C3

Descriotion
^22-pF/l 6v tontulum
-'I OO^pF ceramic "i
22:M-F/1 6v tontulum)

Radio

Shack #
272-1437
272-123
272-14iiZ

1 -pF/35v tontulum

272-1434

cs'

^ .05-uF ceramic

272-134 A''

C6 220-pF/35v electro

272-1017^

C7

470-pF/35v electro

272-1018

VR-l^^ 100-kQ trimmer

271-284

or 100-kQ tVol Ctrl

271-1722

10-Q, V4-watt

271-1301

LM-386 Audio 1C

276-1731

or NTE/ECG 823

Jl-2

Vb" phone jocks

274-251

Misc

Enclosure & PC Assy

270-283

Misc

SPST On/Off Switch

275-645

Misc

9-v Battery Holder

270-326

Misc

9-v Battery Snap

270-325

Oh....you can stay strictly legal, too, and
use the SSA as a cheap hearing aid...like
1 do. © It’s good for a multiplicity of
purposes; legal and illegal. You pick.

Wrap Up: By tlie way; tliere are some
slick things you may want to know about
last issue’s Super Snoop Microphone and
this issue’s Super Snoop Amplifier. Per
instance, you can mount the SS Mic at
the focal point of a parabaloid dish for a
“big ear” gizmo. Or fit an anechoic
muffler tube around the SS Mic to make
a liiglily directional unit. As it is
designed, tlie SS Mic is ratlier omni¬
directional, which is fine for some needs
and not so great for otliers. The
directivity of a microphone is a
mechanical tiling; not electrical, so make
your own directional housing as needed.

Things to come; You might wonder
what tlie SS Mic and SS Amp liave to do
with scanners. Well, I don’t want to give
away the store just yet, but stay tuned,
because we’re not done with the Super
Snoop gadgets yet. The SS Mic and SS
Amp are integral parts of a slick and
wicked project that’ll knock your socks
off. And that’s where we’ll get back into
scanners and bring all this together. For
now, just go along witli me because each
component that I’ll be introducing is
good enough on its own for specific
situations. Then, I’ll bring ‘em all
together to amaze the hell outa you!

PRO-2035 GOES OUT
PRO-2042 COMES IN

The new 1996 Radio Shack Catalog does
not list the PRO-2035, but in its place at
a $50 liigher price is the new PRO-2042.
Bye-bye PRO-2035. One year market
life. Adios. I thought it would happen.

What I didn’t tliink would happen is a
near identical clone of tlie 2035 as a
replacement. A catalog review suggests
the two radios are tlie same. They look
alike, anyway. The catalog description
offers only one clue. ""Advanced Auto-
store". Wliat the hell is that?

I could bet on one more difference. The
now defunct PRO-2035 has a major
weakness with image frequencies on
1100-MHz from the cellular base band.
Some scannists might appreciate this
weakness, but us purists detest image
interference, and Radio Sliack may have
been concerned about the law against
cellular-capable scanners. I’d bet that
image interference has been eliminated.

Soooo, at first glance, it appears to me that
a little bit of new firmware and a slight
redesign to eliminate a fault results in the
same old scanner at a $50 boost in price. I
have a Service Manual on order for a
detailed review, but I don’t know if I will
buy one of these “dogs”. You guys could
help me make up my mind, though! Please
turn the page for an interesting offer.

NEW PRO-2042

in

Of: 1 ?VP<>. i 5. if>C power Oi:t;

9/19/95-4:29 PM ~ The “World Scanner Report” © 1991-95; Volume 5 , No 7; Page 5

FOR SALE

UKE-NEW ~ NICELY MODIREO

PRO-2035 & CE-232

I just can’t afford to buy every new
scanner that sneaks onto the market
these days, but I have to have scanners in
hand in order to develop mods and to
give an intimate evaluation of them.

Accordingly, I'll sell my like-new.
Turbo-Whopper PRO-2035 to recoup
funds to buy and hack the new PRO-
2042. Here's what's in the package:

• PRO-2035 if new $450

• CE-232 Computer Interface, external

in a metal box w/cable, disk, manual,
assembled/tested if new $450

• LED S-Metcr if new $100

• LED Center-Tune Mtr if new $ 80

• Data/Tone Squelch if new $100

• 16,000-Chan Extended Memory

16 Blocks, 1000-ch ea if new $250

• Extended Delay if new $110

• Auto Tape Rec Switch if new $ 70

• This PRO-2035 has received the best of
care and attention and just might make
the right TurboWhopper for some astute
sconnist. The "new" cost of this ultra-fine
scanner is $1610.—, but I will accept the
best offer over $900 between now and
September 30, 1995, or the f/rsf offer
over $1300.—. If you want to make a
serious offer, contact me by e-mail, postal
mail, or Cindy by voice phone per the
Reference Information on Page 1 of this
issue. Payment by VISA/MC/cosh, MO, or
check; check held until bank clears.

RADIO SHACK CATALOG REVIEW
~ Continued —

The 1996 Radio Shack Catalog sports
the two new liigh-end handheld
scanners. PRO-26 and PRO-60, that
have been discussed here in the past, so
they're not all that new. The PRO-26
appears to be the better of the two, and
certainly costs more. Forget hacking
either of these two for anytliing exciting.

If the new PRO-2042 follows the GRE
design of the PRO-2035, it will prove to
be a firmware enhanced PRO-2006, sans
cellular bands. The firmware of the
PRO-2035 was interesting and a step
ahead of the rest of the pack, so the
PRO-2042 probably follows suit. More
later, when 1 get the Service Manual or if
1 can find a way to buy a PRO-2042.

If you know what’s good for you and
your wallet, steer clear of the rest of
Radio Shack’s scanners unless your

budget has no possibility of affording the
PRO-2042, PRO-26, or PRO-60.

One of the neatest tilings in tlie 1996
catalog is the return of “my” Event
Counter Module, #277-302 (pg 130).
Salt}’, crusty hackers may remember my
Mod-30 Event Counter. Then a year
alter I published it. Radio Shack pulled it
from file shelves. Now it’s back....sort of.

I fiiink it has to be special ordered, but
what the heck? Page 130 sports a
handful of other interesting LCD
modules, including a low cost panel-
mount voltmeter/ammeter.

Page 125 sports a $99 oscilloscope!
Well, it’s a probe with an LCD display of
some sort, and software to run it as a
20-MHz oscilloscope. I can’t imagine
the LCD display being worth a hoot, but
the PC adapter and software ought to
make tliis puppy a bargain for most 20
MHz scope needs. Nothing else new in
file test equipment department, but
anofiier mention is deserved for file PC-
Interface Multimeter with 20 MHz
frequency counter, #22-168. We’ve
reviewed this one in the past. Their
Bench meter 22-175 remains a good buy.

On pg 120 is a one-hand soldering
pencil with a gizmotchy to feed solder
while you work. Neat idea, but I don’t
like file tip on the damn thing.

A neat coax cable stripping tool is
offered for $7 on page 118. Good for
RG-6 and RG-59 cables only.

A new shortwave receiver, the DX-394
appears on page 44, but at $400, I
duimo. Radio Shack has never been
renowned for their SWL gear. This one
has all the earmarks of sizzle without
steak. Caution advised. Tlie portable
DX-392 looks decent, but at $250, I
dunno about that one, either.

New ham and business radios and
related equipment appears on pp 41-43

PRO-39 S-METER

_ From: Ira Cooper _

Bill, R-264 is where I pull DC power for
an LED S-Meter mod in the PRO-39. Let
me know if this is kosher. It seems to be
working so far. IVe added your LED S-
Meter, MOD-26, to tlie PRO-39 using
surface mount LED's. Its pretty damn
cool. I cut a Vg" X vertical slot in the
front of the case approx, ^/g" above the
center of the word "KEYLOCK". My S-

Meter consists of 6 green and 4 red
LED's. Unfortunately tlie yellow LEDs
looked just like tlie green (maybe tliey
sent the wrong ones) so I used green and
red. The LM-3914 is on the top board
upper left comer; it will lay on its back.
The precision pot lays to tlie right about
Vg” away on another blank spot on the
board. The whole component section is
built almost entirely between the legs of
the LM-3914. The brightness pot was
used to adjust brilliance, olims measured,
tlien removed and replaced with a
resistor of the measured value. Its tight
but I love it.

ED Comment: The proper DC power
pickoff point is on the switched side of
the On/Off switch. This could also be at
the junction of R264 & R265, same
difference.

Here's a clue for you....about saving
battery power. Keep in mind, depending
on the setting of the LED brilliance, that
current per LED can go to 25-ma or
more. If you 're monitoring fairly strong
signals, then 3~10 lit LEDs will drain
your batteries in short order! But there
is a remedy, thanks to a little known
feature of the LM-3914 chip. It has a
setting for either barograph or spot
mode! Bar-graph is where all LEDs up
to the highest one are lit at the same
time, whereas in spot mode, only the
single highest active LED is lit. This
represents a considerable savings of
power, and increased operating time!

Note how in MOD-26, Pin 9 is tied to a
+ voltage point? Lift that connection so
that Pin 9 doesn't connect to anything,
and you're in the energy-saving spot
mode! Put a switch there so you can
select either mode, at whim and fancy!

For those not in the know, a simple
detector" circuit is needed to generate
an output to an S-Meter device. That
detector is shown as follows:

GENERAL PURPOSE DETECTOR

01-uF 1N34A

In the PRO-39, Point A of the detector
goes to the cathode of D-202 at the
output of T-203, the last I.F.
transformer. The fully amplified 455-Khz
IF signal is converted by the detector to

9/19/95-4:29 PM ~ The ‘World Scanner Report** © 1991-95; Volume 5, No 7; Page 6

a DC voltage proportional to the strengtlt
of the I.F. signal. Point C of the detector
feeds tliis DC signal to the S-Meter of
choice. Point B at either end is simply
ground. Ira Cooper, the submitter of tliis
excellent mod, chose the LED S-Meter
(MOD-26) from Vol-2 of my Scanner
Modification Handbook. Mr. Cooper
went on to build his LED S-Meter into
the PRO-39, an excellent idea.

You may prefer the easier and safer
method of an external S-Meter that can
be disconnected from the scanner as

I desired. If tliis is tlie case,

build tlie detector into as
small of a volume as
possible and connect Point
A to tlie cathode of D-
202. Install a small
phone jack in tlie side of
tlie scanner’s case.

Connect Point C of the
detector to tlie center lug
of the phone jack.
Connect Point B to
Cathode scanner ground at one end
-202 and to the shell of the
phone jack at the otlier
end.

Tlien build the S-Meter of
choice in a metal box or
other enclosure witli a
I short cable terminated in

a phone plug to mate with
the phone jack on the
[ scanner.

\

I Your S-Meter can be the

LED type like MOD-26 in

- my SMH-Vol 2, or it can

be tlie analog type described as MOD-25

in the same book. If you don’t have that
book, you can get the needed information
from a back issue of tlie WSR (V3N3P5).
In fact, tliat issue offers a very detailed
S-Meter mod for the PRO-43, the details
of which are precisely applicable for the
PRO-39, except as noted herein.

Ira Cooper now explains how he adapted
my MOD-26 to a surface-mount LED S-
meter for his PRO-39 as shown in the
remainder of this article: =:> o o o <5'

SMT LED "

MODULE"

Use Insulated

_ , . 30-ga wire

Solder / ... i

fv Power

From R-264

Cut opening
for LEDs

Speaker
Area >

Inside View
of PRO-39
Front Panel

Ira Cooper 2oes on to sa

I used a copper strip with sticky back (From
RS... part# unknown) and the LED common
side. This made it easy to line up the ten

9/19/95-4:38 PM~ The “World Scanner Rcpoii” ©

CtWBDENyiAliStffiSCRnn^i^ PleasftPttntCIaarlyl SubsetiberNo;

1991-95; Volume 5, No 7; Page 7

CITY: STATE:

_-_Career or

Profession

TYPE OF SCANNERS »
& Other Radios »

METHOD OF Check Cash M.O. Visa MstCard COD (+$8.50)
PAYMENT » □ □ □ □ □ _

Credit Card

Acc't No:»_- -_-_

Signature Required (for credit card purchases)

What else to tell us?

US FUMOS PAYABLE TOt

Amount Enclosed
$

Amount Charged
$

Name of Expiration

Issuing Bank_ Date:

USA RATES shown: Canada add 25%; Other Foreign -*-25%-surf or +50%-Air

t ea $ 5m\$

1991 -94: any one year set-10 ea $30.00 h

1991-92: first two years, set-20 ea $40,001$”

1993-94: second two years, set-20 ea $40.00

1991-94: all four years, set-40 ea $75.00

R^tt SlIBSORIPTIONS

First or second Half Year — 5 ea $20.00

One Year — 10 ea $35.00[$”
Two Years — 20 ea $65.001$”

BOOKS A OTHER PRODUCTS

Scanner Mod Hndbk, Vol-1: $17.95 + $4.00 S&H * H
Scanner Mod Hndbk. Vol-2: $17.95 + $4.00 S&H *($
Ultimate Scanner (CheekS): $29.95 + $4.00 S&H *
Scanners & Secret Frequencies: $19.95 + $4.00 S&H * |

* Canada US$9 S&H; Other Foreign US$11 S&H; all add extra for Air
CE-232 Interface Kit $194.95 * $5 S&H; All Foreign add $10-surf
Hertzian Intercept BBS Subs: $8/mo $15/3-fno $25/6-mo $40/yr $75/2-yr 1
HOBBY RADIO BUYER’S DIRECTORY $14.95 ppd. surf
Calif addresses; add 7.25% sales tax to all orders except subcrlpHorrs

7X>TALTHtSORPm:~»

vcr\ small LEDs. I stuck a 2” lengtli of
copper strip on a piece of wood, then covered
the piece in solder. Tlien I timied the lands
of each LED. Now I was able to line up the
10 LEDs anode against the copper strip, in
the order I wanted. Heat the copper strip
solder while in contact with LEDs to make a
nice common bond.

Add all wire leads using 30 ga wire from
R.S., 4" long. SEE DIAGRAM

1. I needed to trim some of the plastic
edging around the speaker for my LED
package to fit. Also had to trim tlie
copper strip on conunon side of LEDs.

2. Place LED strip over opening with wire
leads on the outside (away from spkr). I
held this in place with clear tape. The
logic board will hold it once replaced.

3. Route the wires with other wire bundles
and replace logic board and middle
board. (S-meter diode detector connects
to underside of middle board)

4. Coimect signal detector wire from LED
package to diode detector circuit.

5. Comiect power wire to top leg of R264

6. Coimect ground to any scanner ground.

7. Replace top board.

When making connections to the 3914, make
all connections as close to the body as
possible and cut off excess length. Build this
circuit point-to-point on the 3914 chip,
following instructions in the Scanner
Modification Handbook^ Volume II.

1 used glue to hold the 3914 and pot to circuit
board. For brightness I coimected the pots as
instnicted, set briglitness, measured pot
value, tlien removed pot and replaced it with
equal value resistor. Tliis helped keep the
size to a minimum. Also, set the gain pot
prior to securing components with glue.

(pro-43(^aol.com)

PET PEEVE CONTEST
MORE WINNERS!

SCANNER PRESS COVERAGE
From: Tonv Thornton, Mize, MS
Received; US Mail.

Hi Bill & Cindy: I need one of tliose Percon
CD rom's, so here’s my attempt.

My favorite gripe on our hobby is tlie press
and their coverage and sometimes lack of
coverage on our hobby. (Tlie various rags
tliat have some scanner coverage or only
scaimer coverage, I don’t read tlie others)
Tliey all seem to make a huge attempt to stay
away from stories that are even a little
controversial. (Read Interesting) I have not
seen one mention anywhere of Laura
Quarantiello’s two-facing of our hobby in
“Police” Magazine. Only on tlie Internet
Newsgroups could you find these types of
stories. Tliis only backs up your position of
computers and our hobby, you must own one!
I think these rags could make better attempts
to cover different subjects each month. If you
read one, you’ve read them all. Even the tech
articles in some seem to be sometimes almost
the same from one to the next. I won’t
ramble on, you get the idea, most of these
magazines are all the same. I enjoy the WSR
a great deal. The almost totally technical
format is exactly what I like. Thanks ©

ED: Little do some of you guys know how
thoroughly politics is embedded in all
avenues of Life, including Hobby Radio. The
hobby radio press is not truly THE press, for
one thing. Almost all, including the WSR,
are side ventures of companies just trying to
make a living. Most play the political role to

the hilt. The WSR tries not to . but I can

tell you right up front, we pay a price! Alas,
we cannot sidbsist on press revenue alone. ©

THE NEW RADIO SHACK

From: Paul Longo. Stamford. CT

Received: US Mail.

Wlio came up witli tliis tiling, anyway—some
tliird-grader using his fatlier’s PC, or an
artistically-challenged graphics wannabe? I
mean, c’mon - a red letter “R” sitting at tlie
edge of a red circle??? That’s REALLY
sophisticated! Is this the creative pinnacle of
a multi-billion-dollar international company?
Tlie new logo HAS to be an “inside” design
job - you know, the president’s son wanted
to show off his new “computer skills” to Dad,
who then made sure that Sonny’s “artwork”
would grace every Radio Shack publication
and advertisement in the world! It CAN’T be
that they actually PAID for tliis sorry excuse
for a graphics product!

And - while we’re on the subject - how
about the new (^'typeface ” to you non-artsy-
fartsy WSR readers) that the words “Radio
Shack” are now set in? It’s about as exciting
as Helvetica. In fact, it LOOKS like
Helvetica! Tliere must be a hundred
thousand fonts on the graphics market, and
Radio Shack picks the most boring one! (At
least the font they used prior to this one
looked modem and futuristic, more in
keeping with the image of an electronics
company. The new font reminds me of a
headline in a cheap supermarket tabloid...).

Radio Shack’s logo just dropped down to tlie
level of its products with this latest
“improvement”! (With exception of scaimers,
of course.) PS...I bet tliat Radio Shack still
keeps me on their mailing list..(Here’s my
entry for your “Pet Peeve” contest. Now that
summer is over, we grouches can come out of
the woodwork again.)

ED: Radio Shack plays Super Politics. Now,
Computer City and Incredible Universe! ©

9/19/95 - 4:38 PM~ The “Wofld Scantier Repott” © 1991-95; Volume 5, No 7; Page 8

COHHtroniis QlSINBlIB's

-masemmwsr. ^^e. $

PO BIB 262471
SIN DIEeO, U 92126-2471

/o^ o\- «

1 SEP2r95

1908806 ^_

DEADLINE FOR CONTEST THIS MONTH IS 9/30/95 - SEE PAGE 1

950909V5N07P08